Drying apparatus



Feb., 15,

W. STROBRIDGE- DRYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Si, www

Feb.. l5, 1938. w. STROBRIDGE v 2,108,084

DRYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Imnentor Patented Feb. l5, 1938 PATENT OFFICE name APrAaA'rUs i William Strobridge, Syracuse, N. vY., assignorto United States Hoil'man Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation oi Delaware Application January 4, 193'?,y Serial No. 119,029

9Clalms.

This invention pertains to an improved drying apparatus which may be employed for removing moisture from garments and the like. The-apparatus also lends itself equally tothe removal of cleaning fluid and its odor from garments or the like which have been treated with such uids.

The structure is disclosed in the annexed drawings, whereinz- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine with the door leading to the drum shown in its closed position; l

Fig. 2, a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the door and door frame, the line of section being substantially indicated at II-II on Fig. 1;

' initially expends its energy or givesup'its heatA Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the machine, partly broken away, and with certain portions in section;

Fig. 4, a vertical axial section of the machine; Y

upon a horizontal axis withinva casing, andthe clothes which are introduced into the drum and cascaded therein as the drum is rotated about its axis, are subjected to the ldrying action ofheated air.

The main object of the present invention is to so construct the apparatus that,the heated air is introduced directly into the drum where it rst contacts the goods to be treated, and then passes outwardly through the perforate wall of the drum to an exhaust passage or oiftake. By such an arrangement, the air at its highest temperature tothe treatment of the articles being cascaded Within the drum, before contacting the perfora'te wall of the drum. In other words, the arrangement is such that'the heated air which is introduced into the central portion of the drum or about and around the axis thereof, flrstcontacts the goods in the drum and is then drawn outwardly through the perforate drum wall to an exhaust fan through which the vapor-laden air is discharged. f

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein means is present to cause the air to follow the path above outlined, without undue impedance. 'I'he parts are, however, so proportioned and arranged as to evenly distribute the` flow of air outwardly of the apparatus'. p

With these and other` objects in view, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein II) designates the base of the machine which is supported upon feet II. An upstanding jacket or housing I2 is secured vto the base I0 and extends upwardly from three sides thereof, the fourth or rear open side being partly. closed by a plate I3 secured to the side elements I4 and I5 oi' the housing I 2. f

The housing I2 supports an annular shell I6 having its two ends closed by plates I 1 and I8, respectively. v'I'he front plate I'I is formed with an offset flange or rim I 9`which is secured to a iiange 2| of shell' I8 by means of a clamping ring 22. The ring 22 is U-shapedin cross-section to receive andembrace the flanges I9 and 2|, and its two ends are drawn toward each other by means of a bolt 23 and nut 24, and in this way securely bind the parts together.

A circular 'opening formed centrally of the plate I1 receives a door and door frame assembly, through which loading and unloading of themachine may be effected. The door frame, which is `best shown in Fig. 2, may be said to comprise an annular ange 25, having formed as .an integral part thereof an inwardly extending cylindrical member or portion 26.

- The flange 25 lies against the outer face of the front plate or element Il andl is secured thereto by suitable bolts or the like designated by 21, as best shown in Fig. 4; The cylindrical member ,26 may be apertured, or in other words, may be be provided with 4a series of elongated openings 28'in the upper portion thereof,and the shell I6 is likewise provided withfa series oi openings 29 in that portion or end which overlies the annular member or element 26'.v The purpose and function of thezopenings 28 will hereinafter appear.

To close the outer end of the 'member 26, into and through which the articles to be dried are introduced and withdrawn, there is provided a door 3l which Vis of such' dimensions as to overlie the flange 25 to make close contact therewith when the door is fully closed and secured in position.

'I'he door is ahinged one, andin the formillus- Vtrate'd, the supportingv element may be said 'to comprise a Y-shapevd casting 32, the outer ends of which cooperate with a-pintle or pin 33, which, in

turn, is supported by gudgeons'or lugs 34 extend'- with a hollow elementor member`35 (Fig. 2),

which stands in line with the'center of the door and a bolt 3B extends through the Vdoor and through the outer wall of 'the' member 35. A compression, spring 31 encircles the bolt' 36v and a lug 38 extending inwardly from the outer wall `of the member 3l, so as to always exert suiilcient pressure upon the door to force it tightly toward.

its seat. This ensures tight closure of the structure except for the intake of air hereinafter referred to and the passage leading to the exhaust fan.

When the door is closed and with the parts as shown in full lines reference being had more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 a latch 39 pivoted to the free end of the casting 32 is designed to be thrown downwardly into contact with a fixed keeper 44I carried by the door frame. By swinging the latch 39 upwardly the door may be readily unlocked and swung clear of the opening formed by the cylindrical member 26 and thus afford fullA access to a drum mounted within the casing for rotation therein.

Said drum is cylindrical in contour and its outer wall, designated by 42, is perforate throughout andl has secured at opposite ends, heads 43 and 44, respectively. Head 43 is imperforate and the same is true of the head 44 except for a large central opening formed therein dened by an inwardly extending fiange 45 which surrounds the inner portion or end of the member 28 in spaced relation thereto.

As will be best seen upon reference to Fig. 2, the inwardly extending flange 45 is curved, and together with the adjacent portion of the member 26, forms an annular orifice denoted by 45. This annular space is, in effect, a nozzle through which the indrawn air is normally caused to pass, and by reason of the curvature of the member 45, friction or resistance is at the minimum.

To render the drum structure stable and likewise to produce a cascading effect of the goods within the drum when the same is rotated, there is preferably provided a series of lifter elements which may be formed in various ways. In the instant case, they are produced from sheet metal bent to form, the sheetsy being folded upon themselves into a general V-shape in cross-section, so as to produce the lifter whichjs designated generally by 46. The inner edges of these plates may be welded to the perforate wall of the drum or otherwise secured thereto, and through bolts 41 extend from head to head of the drum and are housed within the fold of the V.`

Thus, rigidity is imparted to the drum, and

casting or element 48 having strengthening ribs' 49 .radiating from a centrally disposed hub-like element i, the outer end of which is reduced, forming a stub shaft 52. Said stub shaft ex` tends into a housing or casting 53 in which it finds its support, suitable roller bearings or the like (not shown) being provided at the outer end of the shaft and at the inner portion thereof adjacent the hub. Stub shaft 52 has secured to it (see more particularly Fig. 3), a sprocket 54 about which passes a sprocket chain 55, which chain also passes about a second sprocket 5B mounted upon a counter-shaft 51 driven Iby an electric motor 58, or other suitable source of power.

The drum adjacent what may be termed the intake or forward end thereof, has secured to its outer face adjacent the forward head or wall 44,

.a suitable packing 50 which extends entirely around the same and contacts the inner face of the annular shell or casing Il. As shown, this packing is U-shaped in form and when produced from heavy felt or the like will, by reason of its U-shape, spring outwardly and closely contact the adjacent wall of the casing, forming a continuous seal between the rotatable drum and the casing. Thus, passage of air around the end of the drum at this point is precluded. Any form -of seal and the securement thereof at this point be drawn into the rotating dnmi and directly into contact with the goods which are being cascaded therein, prior to its outward passage through the perforate wall of the cylinder. Preferably, a chamber as 59 will be formed or mounted upon the `upper end of the cylindrical shell or casing I6, and a suitable heating element is mounted in the intake end of said casing, which end is open to the atmosphere. Said heating element may be of the form illustrated, to wit, a iin heater designated generally by 8l, having a supply pipe 62 for steam Iof the desired temperature and an offtake pipe B3, to ensure proper circulation through the coils. To provide for the tempering of the air in case it becomes too hot, a slide or other suitable valve 64 is provided to control openings, as 65 and 66, formed in the wall of the element 59.

The motor 58 in addition to imparting rotary motion to the drying drum, likewise, in the instant case, is employed to actuate an exhaust fan denoted generally by 81. The eye of the fan, as

will be best seenupon reference to Figs. 3 and 4, is connected to a relatively large conduit 68, the upper end of which terminatesin an opening formed in the rear wall I8 of the casing, said opening being preferably located at the lower portion of the casing, or at a point considerably below the axis of the drum.

In Fig. 5, the apparatus is shown vin the dia--v grammatic or outline form, this with a view of clearly indicating the passage of the air through the apparatus. Upon looking at this ngure, it will be seen that ,the incoming air passes into the upper portion of the structure where it is heated, thence is drawn downwardly through the openings 29 and through the nozzle or space 45, and is thus projected centrally into the drum.

Under certain conditions, the air may pass through the openings or apertures 28 in the sleeve-like member 26 and into the drum in the event that the cascading articles being treated in the drum should tend to close off portions of theY main air inlet. to wit, the nozzle 45".

The air is precluded from passing varound the end of the drum or cylinder and exteriorly of the same by the packing 50, which seals off the space between the outerV wall of the drum and the casing; thus, short-circuiting of the air is precluded and it must. all pass axially and inwardly into the drum.

The air is thus brought into direct contact with the goods which are being cascaded within the drum, contactingy the same prior to any contact with the perforate wall of the drum, and the heat units are given upnilrst to the goods and not'primarily to the drum.

After absorbing or taking up moisture from the articles or goods, the air is drawn outwardly through the perforate drum wall 42 into the casing and to the oiftake opening with which the pipe 88 is connected. Some air as it is first introduced into the' rotary drum will, of course,

pass directly to the perforate wall ofthe drum,

. but in the main the greater volume directly contacts the goods being cascaded.

Reference is again made to Figures vi= and 5, wherein the path of ilow of the air may be readily followed, and wherein it will be seen that the cylindrical shell or wall 42 of the drum extends past the head 4 3 toward the rear wall I 8 to a considerable` extent. Such portion is imperforate and an annulus 60 is thus produced through which the outgoing air must be drawn. 'I'he width of this annulus is such as to cause an-even distribution of the iiow of air outwardly from the drum.

In use the drum is, of course, rotated while the air is being drawn into and through the apparatus. The goods with contained water or cleaning iiuid may be introduced through the member 26 when the door 3l is opened, and'this while the drum is stationary or rotating. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the articles are primarily extracted before introduction into the present apparatus, so that there is no necessity for any free water or cleaning uid oftake, the residual moisture being evaporated by and carried oi with the heated air through the exhaust fan.

What is claimed is:

l. A drying apparatus, comprising a casing; a hollow drying cylinder rotatably mounted within said casing, said cylinder comprising a perforate peripheral wall and two end walls, one of said walls being imperforate and the other of said end walls having a circular opening formed centrally therein, the adiacent wall of the casing likewise having a circular opening therein in axial alignment with the circular opening formed in the end wall aforesaid; a closure for the opening` in the casing; means for sealing the cylinder adiacent the last named end wall with reference to the casing to prevent the passage of air between Said parts at this point; an annular flange carried by the casing and extending inwardly into the central opening in the adjacent end wall of the cylinder, the outer peripheral face of said ange standing in spaced relation to the edge of the opening in the cylinder wall, forming therewith an orice through which air may be drawn in an axial direction into the cylinder; and means for drawing air through said orifice into the central portion of the cylinder andv outwardly through the perforate peripheral wall thereof.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the circular opening formed in the wall of the cylinder is dened by a flange which is curved inwardly toward the axis of the drum, thereby forming in effect with the annular ange -carried by the casing, an annular nozzle.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claimll, wherein the annular ange carried by the casing is provided with apertures in that portion thereof which lies between the adjacent head of the" cylinder and the adjacent wall of the casing.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the annular flange carried by the casing is provided with a series of apertures in the upper portion thereof through which the air may be drawn to pass inwardly into the drying cylinder.

5. A drying apparatus, comprising a casing embodyng a front and a rear Wall, the front wall being provided with an opening for the introduction and removal of goods to be treated; a door for closing said opening; a 4hollow drying cylinder rotatably mounted within said casing, said cylinder comprising a perforate peripheral with the opening formed in the front wall of the casing; means for sealing the periphery of said cylinder with reference to the shell at the intake AaY end of the cylinder against the passage oi' air longitudinally of the cylinder; an annular collar secured to the inner face of the front wall oi' the casing and projecting into the opening in the front wall ofthe cylinder, said collar being provided with apertures; and means for drawing air into the cylinder from said apertured collar and discharging it outwardly of the casing.

6. A drying apparatus, comprising a casing having a door opening therein; a closure' for said opening; a drum'rotatably mounted in said casing, said drum having a perforated peripheral wall, a closed end wall, and an end wall having a circular central opening therein; an annular flange around said door opening and extending inwardly into said central opening and forming an annular orifice between the flange and the edge of the wall which defines said central opening; means for sealing the drum with reference to the adjacent wall of the casing at that end wall-of the drum in which the opening is provided for the introduction of the material to 4be dried and the subsequent withdrawal therefor,

`to prevent entrance of air longitudinally between said parts at this point; and means for drawing air through said annular oriice and axially into said drum, the air passing through the periphery of said drum and out of said casing at that end remote from said door opening.

'1. A drying apparatus comprising a casing having an inlet opening in one end wail and an exhaust opening in the other end wall; a hollow drying cylinder rotatably mounted in said casing, said cylinder having a perforate periphery, an imperforate end, and an end spaced, from the casing inlet, said end having a circular centrally disposed opening therein; an annular aperturd flange secured to said casing around the inlet opening and extending inwardly into the perfo# rate end of said cylinder; means for directing air into said casing through the apertures yin said ilange and axially into said cylinder; and means connected to the exhaust opening in said casing for withdrawing air radially from said cylinder.

8.' A drying apparatus, comprising a casing having a front wall with an opening therein for the introduction of material to be treated, and an oppositely disposed wall having an exhaust opening therein; a hollow drying cylinder rotatably mounted in said casing, said cylinder having a perforate periphery, an imperforate inner end, and an end spaced from the front wall of the casing, which end is formed with an opening aligning with the opening in said front wall;-an annu- 9. A drying apparatus, comprising a rotatable cylinder having openings in its periphery, one

end closed and the other with an opening therein; a casing enclosing said cylinder, said casing having an inlet at one end in registry with the many mw um cyunar; mum rmhaunting airl radialy from said cylinder; `and an annular packing between the periphery ot the drum adjacent that end having the opening therein and the peripheral wall of the casing for isolating the cylinder inlet from the annular space between the periphery of the cylinder and the casing.

WILLIAM BTROBRIDGE. 

